Experiences with bidding on starting locations and random board

Hi guys, I have a game scheduled next Sunday and I'm really liking the idea of a mostly random board and bidding on starting locations via https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/674131/variant-galaxy-preconstruction&ved=0ahUKEwiEnLLOh9jMAhXL7yYKHUF9CMUQFghDMAo&usg=AFQjCNFsg-BUEsYTCDldCishohU7eKOnVA&sig2=tuMm2DUU7d6xbSMurVQzwg . I'm thinking of adding the caveat that home systems can't be placed on the inner ring, but aside from that I'd like to stay true to those steps.

Does anyone have experiences with this set up that could let me know if it is worth it or not? Also, how would you determine races/secret objectives with this setup to be as far as possible?